#steakhouses

NEW! Hennepin County Library Digital Collection: Charlie's Cafe Exceptionale Menus

Hundreds of menus, menu inserts, and table cards from the iconic Charlie's Cafe Exceptionale have now been added to the HCL Digital Collections.

Charlie's Cafe Exceptionale opened in Downtown Minneapolis in 1933 and closed in 1982. The restaurant was a destination for the famous and infamous, locals and out-of-town visitors, and was frequently ranked among the best restaurants in the country.

Charlie’s Cafe Exceptionale was founded by former bootlegger Charlie “The Finn” Herlin and newcomer to the restaurant business, Charlie Saunders. After Herlin died in 1934, Saunders took full ownership and built the business to become the premier restaurant in Minneapolis. His success enabled him in 1948 to build a new building across the street at 7th St. and 4th Ave., which he expanded in 1958.

The fare was classic steak house with large portions of beef and “man-sized” drinks in a traditional clubhouse atmosphere. Though Charlie’s is perhaps best remembered for its more modest dishes, including pickled herring, lutefisk dinner at Christmastime, house-made mayonnaise, potato salad, and a lunchtime favorite named for a local journalist, the Cedric Adams Sandwich.

Louise Saunders successfully ran the restaurant for many years after the death of her husband in 1964, but times changed and tastes changed with them. Charlie’s closed in 1982 and the wrecking ball came soon after. Many still remember eating at Charlie’s, and recipes for many favorites can still be found in print and online.

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